Sphygmomanometer comprising a mercurial manometer, a bracelet, connecting tubes or rubber hoses and a manual air ejector pump, all of them housed within a case from which the manometer can be removed for self-contained use. The lid of the case is pivotally hinged by means of a device comprising a hinge and a reactive spring which allows the lid to lift always at 90° in respect to the base when the case opens. In the interior of one of the lengthwise side walls of the case a fastening plate is moveably engaged, which serves to fix the rubber tubes in a certain position due to the position inside the case of the structural elements, the case has a minimum thickness.

1. In the combination of a compact case and an integral, removable sphygmomanometer, wherein the case includes a base and a lid held together at respective ends by a combination of a hinge and pivotal means and closure means at the opposite end of said base and said lid; and wherein the sphygmomanometer includes a manometer with a mercury reservoir and a measuring tube held in support device having a scale alongside said measuring tube, wherein said support means has means to connect said reservoir to a bracelet which in turn has means to connect it to a manually operated pump; the improvement comprising a manometer supporting device having one disc element at its upper end and two disc elements at its lower end with centrally located recesses in said discs; said supporting device having at its upper back end movable hook means; said lid having an integral housing structure to lodge said supporting device; said structure including at its bottom upper surface two protuberances that correspondingly engage said recesses of the two lower disc elements of said supporting device; said structure having at its upper end centrally situated screw means that mates with said recess of the upper disc element of said supporting device, that becomes fixedly attached to said structure when said screw means is driven downwards; said supporting device having detachable hose means that connects said reservoir with said bracelet which in turn has non-detachable hose means connecting the same with said pump; said detachable hose means being passed through loop guide means; said pivotal means including a reactive helical spring having oppositely projecting ends, one of which presses against said lid to hold it in its open position, while the other spring end presses against a bottom part of a spring supporting piece from whose bottom said hose guide means projects; said base having at one of its inner side walls a combination movable fastening plate coupled by pivotal means to an inner side wall portion of said base and a clamping device to hold down said non-detachable hose and a neck portion of said pump, respectively.

2. In the improved compact case and sphygmomanometer combination as defined in claim 1, the further improvment wherein said fastening plate is coupled along the length of a pivot axle that includes a rod, one of whose ends is disposed within a spring that is housed inside a sleeve which is in turn fixed by a screw that also fixes a clamp that holds said pump, while the other end of said rod is located within said helical spring and has fixed to it a tapered body made of two cooperating portions, one of which is provided with ribs and the other with notches, said ribs and said notches being forced into mating engagement by said helical spring.

3. In the improved compact case and sphygmomanometer combination as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said pivotal means includes a reactive helical spring having an elongated U-shaped projecting end portion in contact with said lid; an axle bolt freely fixing said U-shaped portion for pivotally mounting said last-named helical spring at the inner side wall of one end of said base, at a middle point of the same; a guide perpendicular to said U-shaped portion when said lid is opened, through which guide passes said detachable hose means which communicates said reservoir of the manometer with said bracelet.

4. In the improved compact case and sphygmomanometer combination as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said hose guide means, through which said detachable hose means passes, is located so that it cooperates with said fastening plate and said clamping device to firmly hold down said detachable hose, said bracelet and said pump.

5. In a sphygmomanometer consisting of a manometer with a mercury reservoir and a measuring tube held in support device having a scale alongside said measuring tube, wherein said support means has means to connect said reservoir to a bracelet which in turns has means to connect it to a manually operated pump, the improvement comprising a manometer supporting device having one disc element at its upper end and two disc elements at its lower end, with centrally located recesses in said discs; said supporting device having movable hook means at its upper back end, as well as detachable hose means that connects said reservoir with said bracelet, which in turn has hose means connecting the same with said pump.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

All sphygmomanometers heretofore known generally comprise a manometer, a bracelet, hoses and a manual air pump, all of them being housed inside a case.

The manometer is fixedly positioned in the lid of the case and is connected to the bracelet by means of a hose, and this bracelet is also connected with the end of another hose having in its opposite end a manual air pump which generally is a hollow rubber pear.

The structural elements, that is: the bracelet, the hoses and the air pump are housed at the base of the case. Due to the size of the pear constituting the air pump and due to the fact that the bracelet is rolled to keep the hoses substantially tight, the thickness of the case is at least the sum of the largest diameter of the pear and the thickness of the manometer. Therefore, the persons using these apparatus find it troublesome to carry them, due to the bulk thereof, and that make them impractical to a certain degree as far as their transportation is concerned.

On the other hand, the lid of the case is hinged to the base thereof by means of two bolts and when the sphygmomanometer is used, in order to place the lid in a vertical position, the lifting and placing of same is manually effected. Furthermore, the hinge bolts must be placed in such a position that the lid is not drawn back or the lid should have a proper device or mechanism that will keep the same in a lifted and fixed position. Therefore, in many instances, these mechanisms jam, thereby presenting difficulties in closing the lid or else they do not operate correctly, thereby avoiding to keep said lid in a lifted and fixed position.

As aforementioned, the hoses generally are loose when placed within the case, therefore, when the lid is closed these hoses might be caught by the same or else, when not suitably folded, the case cannot be properly closed. Furthermore, due to the irregularity of the folds of the hoses in order to be housed in the case, they are very easily damaged.

Another considerable disadvantage is the fact that the manometer of the apparatus is fixed in the lid of the case. Therefore in many occasions, since the place where the patient whose arterial blood pressure will be measured does not have proper conditions due, for example, to limited space or inaccessibility, the sphygmomanometer cannot be placed in the proper operating position together with the case.

In accordance to the above mentioned, the operation of the known sphygmomanometers presents several serious difficulties, in addition to the impediments of the case, as regards its transportation and handling.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer comprising an integral and removable manometer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer including a fastening plate which positions and secures the connecting tubes inside the case, for the purpose that they neither are caught by the lid nor prevent the closing of said lid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer having a case considerably thinner than those already known, since, in general, the inventive case has only 60 percent of the thickness of the cases normally found in the market.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a manually operated improved compact sphygmomanometer comprising an air ejector pump having a slightly flattened shape.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer in which, within the case, the bracelet is placed in an extended manner, being only folded by the middle, to thereby occupy less space.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer having the lid of the case hinged by means of a hinge and a reactive spring device, thus allowing, when opening the case, that the lid be provided with an independent and pivotal movement until reaching the vertical position thereof in which position it is kept.

It is finally another object of the present invention to provide an improved compact sphygmomanometer which is lighter and at the same having substantial impact strength, due to the material from which it is made.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front vertical elevational view illustrating the lid of the case of the compact sphygmomanometer of the present invention including the integral and removable manometer, fragmented in an conventional manner;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view illustrating the base of the case of the sphygmomanometer of with the correct positioning of the bracelet, the connecting tubes and the air ejector pump;

FIG. 3 is a side vertical elevational view, showing the lid of the sphygmomanometer of with a conventional section in the lid, illustrating the integral and removable manometer in its fixed position and separated from the case;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear vertical elevational view illustrating the upper and lower portion of the integral and removable manometer of the sphygmomanometer of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a fragmentary conventional section, illustrating the fastening plate for securing the connecting tubes of the sphygmomanometer of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 illustrating the fastening plate in its securing position and in its lifted position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section at 7--7 of FIG. 5 illustrating a portion of the end of the pivot axle of the fastenging plate;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section at 8--8 of FIG. 5, illustrating the other portion of the end of the pivot axle of the fastening plate;

FIG. 9 is a conventional longitudinal section of a portion of the lid and the base of the case of the sphygmomanometer, illustrating a side vertical elevational view of the spring of the hinge and reactive spring device when the lid is in its lifted position; and

FIG. 10 is a conventional cross-section of a portion of the lid and the base of the case of the sphygmomanometer, illustrating a front vertical elevational view of the spring of the hinge and reactive spring device, with the lid in its lifted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to an improved compact sphygmomanometer (11) comprising a case that consists of a lid (12), a base (13) and side walls (14). This case is a housing inside of which the structural elements of the sphygmomanometer (11) are engaged.

For the purpose of providing proper lightness for carrying or transporting the apparatus and at the same time providing a substantial impact strenght, the case of the sphygmomanometer (11) is manufactured of a duly selected plastic. The lid (12) is hingedly and pivotally engaged (see FIG. 1) to the side walls (14) by means of a hinge and reactive spring device consisting, on the one hand, of bolts (15) fastened to the lid (12) and inserted in perforations of metal supporting protuberances (16) that are attached to the side wall (14) of the case; and on the other hand, of a proper reactive spring assembly (17) located in an intermediate point of the case and that allows (see FIGS. 9 and 10) the lid (12) to independently pivot 90° in respect to the base (13) and, furthermore upon reaching 90° said lid (12) it is fixed in a vertical position, thereby preventing its falling back.

The reactive spring assembly (17) comprises a loop shaped guide (18), integral with supporting ears (19) and said assembly (17) is fixed to the base (13) in a portion of the guide (18), by means of a screw (20) fastened to a projection (21) of the base (13). In a portion of the supporting ears (19) an axle bolt (22) is engaged that fastens inside the supporting ears (19), a spring projection end (23) and a washer (24). This spring projection (23) is the one that forces the lid (12) to pivot and to be fixed at 90°, and it comprises a helical portion that is engaged to the supporting ears (19) by means of the axle bolt (22), and an elongated U-shaped portion which is in contact with the lid (12) and forces same to lift and to keep the lifted position. Besides, for the purpose of holding the case closed, the lid 12 is provided with a conventional closure means 54, such as a latch.

In an inner portion of one of the side walls (14) of the case (see FIG. 2) a fastening plate (25) is engaged by means of a pivot axle (26), joined by its ends to flanges (27) by means of screws (28). In the opposite end at which the fastening plate (25) is mounted at the pivot axle (26), said plate (25) has an edge fold all along its length.

For the purpose that the fastening plate (25) be provided with a pivoting movement with two fixed positions, one of them keeping the fastening plate (25) parallel to the base (13) of the case and the other keeping it perpendicular to the base (13) of the case (see FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8), the pivot axle (26) comprises a rod (29) having at one end of its ends a helical spring (30), freely placed in a sleeve (31), and at the other end the rod (29) has a tapered body (32) engaged thereto. The tapered body (32) consists of two cooperating portions, one of which has a rib (33) forced to be introduced, by means of the helical spring (30), into cross-shaped grooves (34) of the other cooperating portion.

The structural elements of the measuring apparatus positioned inside the case (see FIGS. 1 and 2); that is, an integral removable manometer (35) joined by means of a detachable hose or connecting tube (36) to a bracelet (37) joined, by another connecting tube (36) to a manually operated air pump (38).

The integral manometer (35) is removable engaged (see FIGS. 1 and 3) to the lid (12) in which it is attached, by means of driving down a screw (39), to a housing structure (40) which is placed all along the lid (12) at the end portion opposite to the side wall (14) to which the fastening plate (25) is attached. The base of the housing structure (40) includes two protuberances (41), so that the integral manometer (35) is properly fixed.

In this manner, the compact sphygmomanometer (11) of this invention can be operated with or without the case when separating the manometer (35) from the lid (12), thereby avoiding the use of a bulky case when employing the same in an inaccessible location.

The bracelet (37) folded by the middle (see FIG. 2) is placed in the base (13) in the portion corresponding to where the fastening plate (25) is positioned. Thereby this fastening plate (25), due to its edge fold, can keep in a fixed position the connecting tubes (36) folded under the same. In order to substantially keep the same position (see FIG. 9), the connecting tube (36) of the manometer (35) leading to the bracelet (37), passes through the loop of the guide (18) of the reactive spring assembly (17).

The manual operating air pump (38) is housed at the base (13) of the case (see FIG. 2) in a proper cavity provided, colineal to the fastening plate (25), and it is attached by means of a clamp or clamping device (42) which secures its neck portion (43).

Due to the aforementioned accommodation of the structural elements of the sphygmomanometer (11), the lid (12) can be very easily closed, since all the elements are duly fixed; and the problem, for example, that the connecting tubes (36) be loosely placed and be caught by said lid (12) is solved due to the fastening plate (25) together with the guide (18) of the reactive spring assembly (17); and furthermore, due to the fact that these connecting tubes (36) are not folded unsuitably, their life is extended.

In order to provide the minimum thickness to the case of the sphygmomanometer (11) of the present invention and consequently that the same be more easily handled (see FIG. 1), the integral manometer (35) is made as a bar (44) with a lengthwise groove (45) where a transparent tube (46) is located inside of which a column of liquid mercury (47) runs and which is fixed at the ends of the bar (44) by this ends (48).

At the side portions of the bar (44) registering with the transparent tube (46) certain numbers are included that correspond to a defined scale in the transparent tube (46), which scale is for measuring arterial pressures.

At the base of the integral manometer (35) (see FIG. 3) there are discs (49) including recesses that mate, respectively, with the screw (39) and the protuberances (41), so that the integral manometer (35) can be properly located within the housing structure (40) when fixed to the lid (12).

At its upper and rear portion (see FIG. 4) the integral manometer (35) comprises a movable hook (50) and at its lower and rear portion a mercury reservoir (51) that has at its upper level an air inlet perforation (52) to which the connecting tube (36), joining the integral manometer (35) with the bracelet (37), is connected. From the above it can be inferred that the integral manometer (35) is shaped in a compact manner and since it is removable, when used separately from the apparatus, it can alway be vertically positioned due to the movable hook (50) from which it can be suspended from any place.

The manually operating air pump (38) (see FIG. 2) is shaped in a flattened manner in order to have a thickness that is slightly greater than the diameter of its neck (43), which diameter corresponds approximately to the thickness of the integral manometer (35). The neck (43) is attached, by means of an air release device (53), to the connecting tube (36) for engagement with the bracelet (37), and this air release device (53) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck (43).

From the above finally results that due to the thickness and positioning of all the structural elements of the sphygmomanometer (11) within the case, it has a very small thickness and thus the sphygmomanometer (11) of the present invention is more easily handled, either when placing the same in the location where it will operate or when transporting the same due to the reduced space it requires.

Although the above description has been made as regards a specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood by all skilled in the art that any change in the form and detail is included within the spirit and scope thereof.